Drive for a pendulum, swing or the like



Nov. 11, 1952 J PUNZAK 2,617,247

DRIVE FOR A PENDULUM, SWING OR THE LIKE Filed June 13, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOSEPH F PUNZAK BY A T TOPNEKS NOV. 11, 1952 J PUNZAK 2,617,247

DRIVE FOR A PENDULUM, SWING OR -THE LIKE Filed June 13, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH F. PUNZAK T 77 BY A W km;

A T TORNEKS NOV. 11, 1952 J PUNZAK 2,617,247

DRIVE FOR A PENDULUM, SWING OR THE LIKE Filed June 15, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JOSEPH F. PUNZAK FQMJ W,

Patented Nov. 11, 1952 DRIVE FOR A PENDULUM, SWING OR THE LIKE Joseph F. Punzak, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to United Metal Goods Manufacturing 00., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 13, 1950, Serial No. 167,847

12 Claims.

This invention relates to electric clocks, and is particularly directed to operating mechanism for a pendulum, swing or the like.

Electric clocks have been provided with swings, pendulums and the like, operated from the same motor that drives the clock. However, this imposes a slight additional load on the clock, which in some cases may be undesirable as affecting the accuracy of the clock.

An important object of this invention is to provide actuating mechanism for a pendulum or swing, operated by a motor entirely separate from the motor that operates the clock hands.

However, the actuating mechanism for the pendulum or swing may, if desired, be operated by the same motor that operates the clock.

The operating unit or assembly forming the subject matter of this invention, and which, as noted, may be operated by its own motor, or by the clock motor, comprises a continuously rotating shaft, mounted in a hollow core. This shaft carries a cam which bears against the inner end of a piston-like member, which projects laterally through the core member. This piston bears against the mid portion of an inclined carrier plate, which is pivoted to the clock fram at its upper end; pivotally suspended from the lower end of this inclined carrier plate is a swing or pendulum, the weight of which causes the inclined plate to bear against the piston. The piston pushes the carrier plate outwardly and gravity causes the carrier plate to follow the piston on its return stroke, the reciprocation of the piston operating the swing or pendulum.

The carrier plate, as mentioned, may be inclined. However, the carrier plate may be positioned vertically. Where the carrier plate is inclined, the weight of the swing or pendulum tends to hold the swing against the piston; however, a light spring may be used, for pressing the carrier plate against the piston at all times, to avoid backlash. Where the carrier plate is vertical, the spring is necessary for holding the plate in contact with the piston.

The described operating unit may be positioned to operate the swing fore and aft, or'laterally, as may be desired.

Fig. 1 is a front view, showing the improved drive of this invention, having a motor separate a motor separate from the clock, lateral or sidewise swing.

Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a front view, and Fig. 8 an end view, where the clock motor also operates the swing, which moves fore and aft.

Figs. 9 and 10 are front and side views of a modification, where the carrier plate is vertical.

Figs. 11 and 12 are side views, showing the use of springs with inclined carrier plates.

Referring now to these drawings, 2 is a portion of a clock frame, the dial, clock frame, gearing and motor (not shown) being mounted in the space indicated generally at 4. A mounting plate 6 is secured in any convenient way to base plate 2. The plate 6 supports studs 8, into which screws l3 are threaded, these studs and screws supporting a base plate [2, having arms M for supporting a constant speed motor of known construction, the rotor of which is shown at IS.

The shaft of the motor drives a worm l8, Fig. 3, which drives a toothed fiber gear 20 fixed on shaft 22. Shaft 22 carries a toothed gear 24 driving a gear 26, fixed on shaft 28, journaled in bearings 30 in a hollow core member 32.

Core 32 is supported by a right angled flanged bracket 33, secured to plate 6, the bracket having an aperture to receive the reduced portion 32 of the core. Shaft 28 carries a plural faced cam 34, having as many contact points as desired, conveniently three.

Core 28 is provided with a piston-like member 36, having a rounded head 38 engageable by the cam 34. Piston 38 projects laterally for some distance beyond the outer surface of core 32, and engages the intermediate portion of an inclined carrier plate 40. Carrier plate 40 is pivotally mounted at its upper end by a pin 42, passing through cars 44 on the plat and mounted in posts 46 on plate 6.

The lower end of carrier plate 40 is provided with bent ears 48, through which passes a pivot pin 50, on which pin wires 52 are freely pivoted. Wires 52 are formed into a swing like and pendulum like member 54, on which a figurine 56 may be seated. The swing 54 hangs vertically and the pivot 42 is so located with respect to core 32 that the carrier plate 40 is at an incline to the vertical, whereby the weight of the swing, and of the carrier plate itself, causes the carrier plate to be pressed into constant contact with piston 36, pressing it into contact with the rotating cam 34.

In operation, the constantly rotating shaft 22 drives cam shaft 28, cam 34 as it rotates causing In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the swing;

is driven by its own motor l6 and, is arranged to swing laterally, instead of fore and aft. The C011? struction is similar to that of Fig. 1, the principal difference being that the core 32a.;is;at,rig.hf 8 :1 gles to the base plate 6, instead f parallelwith.

it, as in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 5, any simple reduction geardrivenfrom the motor shaft may be provided; for example, a

worm 56 driven by the motor shaft drivesa.

toothed gear 58 mounted on shaft 59, which is provided at its outer end with a Worm 60, driving a toothed fiber gear 62 on shaft 64-. Shaft 54 carries a worm meshing, withtoothedugear 68, which drives shaft 28 'of ,-c0r.e .memb.e1: 3 2a, positioned'at right angles, to .baseplaterfir Shaft 28, as before, has a cam 3.4,.operating a piston 36 in engagement with an.inclined carrier plate. 49a, pivoted at its upperend .on .pin B9andrcarrying at its-lower end-a vpivotally.suspended'swing or pendulum l0. As before, the weight of the swing keepsthe carrier plate. 411a. pressed against piston the reciprocation of which causes the swing lilto swing laterally. As before, they period of oscillation may be varied by selecting the length of the swing 7G,: and by :the. control of the sizes of the drivinggears- In the description above, th'eactuationofithe pendulum or swing is-bya motor separate-from the clock motor. However, agenerally similar operating unit may beused, for actuation by the clock motor.

In this construction, referring to Figs. 7,: 8 "and 9, the clock motor ii-operatesthe-shaft lfi -for driving the usual train of gears -for --oper-a-ting:the hands of the-clock. "In-order to actuate-the swing,- shaft 1 9 is provided withLa-worm 18 meshing with a toothed gear J9 on vertical shaft 89, journale d inl brackets 82; The-shaft -carries, at its lower-end, algearidb-ianalogous to gear ZA, Fig. 1), which meshes-with gear 26bdriving a shaft 28b journaled in core- 32b.- A thr-ee sided cam 34b-operates a piston-391), which -in--turn bears against and actuates-carrierplate-49b carryinga swing 5217,- which, like -swing 52,-swings fore and aft. positioned, but it couldbehorizontally positioned, if. desired, by usingva worm wheel-and. gear like 66 and .68, Fig. 5, at the lowerendof shaft 80.:-

In order to operate the swing or pendulum-laterally from the clock motor,-'the :core 32-b=andw loosely through ;a hole in the. base --p1;ate,;the outer.

Core 3212 is -shown .as vertically 'jecting laterally: from said core-member,:: and a end of the pin 92 being threaded to receive a nut 93. A washer 94 loosely surrounds the pin 92 and a compression spring 95 is confined between nut 93 and washer 94. Plate is rocked on pivot 81 by a piston 38 carried by core 32 and reciprocated as already described. Spring presses the plate 85. into contactat all times, with the plate. The tension onthe spring 95 may be adjusted by nut 93, an adjustment which varies the amplitude of the swing 9|.

A similar type of spring may be used in connection with an inclined carrier plate, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. In Fig. 11, a pin 95 carried by thebase plate 6 passes loosely through a hole 311113116 inclinedcarrier plate 49, and a compressome detail, it should be understood that the invention is. not limited to precisely the details shown, but may be carried out in other details.

I claim as my invention:

1; A drive for aclock pendulum; swing or-the like, comprising a rotatable shaft, 2. motor geared to said shaft for rotating it, a cam carried by said shaft, a reciprocable piston operated by said cam, a carrier plate in operative engagement with said piston for actuation thereby, and, a pendulum pivotally suspended from said carrier plate, said carrier plate'being positioned: at an angleztothe vertical, so that theweight ,of:said 1swingtends to hold the carrier plate in engagement with; said piston.

2.: A drive for a .clock :pendulum; swing LOI'TthE like, comprisingra:rotatable shaft; a-motor geared to said shaft for rotatingit, acamcarried by said shaft,;a reciproeable pistomoperated by said cam,

, arcarrier plate. pivotally mountedat its upper. end

with its intermediate portion; in. operative engagement with said piston, andga swing pendulum member suspended; for free pivotal movement from the lower .end of; said :carrier plate,. said carrier plate being.positionedat, an :angle to.the

vertical, sov that. the -.weigh.t-.of saidswing pendul ml. member tends to hold: the... carrier." plate against said piston;

3. A drive .for ,a;elo.ck,.pendulum-,: swing. on the like comprising,-- a:; base plate; a. .core .member mountedonrsaid base plate, ashaft journaledin said core member; a; motor geared. to :said shaft for. rotating it, agcam' carried :by saidrshaft, a reciprocable piston carried ,by saidi'core and .in operative engagement with; said 1 camp. and :pro-

swing pendulum operatively converted .with; said piston for operation thereby.

4. A drive for EuCIOCk -pendulum,.swing or .the like comprising, a base :plate, a coreamember mounted-on said base plate,:.a shaft journaled in said core member, a motor geared to said shaft for rotating it, a cam carried bysaid shaft,- a-reciprocable :piston carried by saidgeore, and inoperative engagement with said .cam,.and projecting laterally from saidcore membenwa carrier plate in operative engagement WithLsaid piston, and a swing pendulum member freely. :pivotedat the end of said carrier plate; 7

5. A drive for a clock pendulum, swing-or the like, comprising a base plate, a core member mounted on said base plate, a shaft journaled in said core member, a motor geared to said shaft for rotating it, a cam carried by said shaft, a reciprocal piston, in operative engagement with said cam, and projecting laterally from said core member, a carrier plate, pivoted at its upper end and having its intermediate portion in operative engagement with said piston, and a swing pendulum freely pivoted at the lower end of said carrier plate, said carrier plate being positioned at an angle to the vertical, so that the weight of said swing pendulum member tends to hold the carrier plate in contact with said piston.

6. A drive for a pendulum, swing or the like, comprising a pivoted carrier plate, a reciprocable piston in operative engagement with said carrier plate, spring means for pressing said carrier plate toward said piston, and a pendulum member carried by said carrier plate.

7. A drive for a pendulum, swing or the like, comprising a vertically positioned carrier plate, pivotally mounted at its upper end, a swing member pivotally carried by the lower part of said carrier plate, reciprocable means, engageable with the intermediate portion of said plate, and spring means for pressing the carrier plate into engagement with said reciprocable means.

8. A drive for a pendulum, swing or the like, comprising a rotatable shaft, a motor geared to said shaft for rotating it, a cam carried by said shaft, a reciprocable piston operated by said cam, a carrier plate adapted to be actuated by said piston, spring means for pressing said carrier plate toward said piston, and a pendulum swing member pivoted freely to the lower part of said carrier plate.

9. A drive for a clock pendulum or the like, comprising a rotatable shaft, a motor geared to said shaft for rotating it, a carrier plate pivoted on a horizontal axis above said rotatable shaft, a pendulum swing pivoted to said carrier plate on a horizontal axis located at a level below said rotatable shaft, a cam carried by said rotatable shaft, and a piston positioned to reciprocate longitudinally in a substantially horizontal, rectilinear path, to be operated by said cam and to engage said carrier plate.

10. A drive for a clock pendulum or the like, comprising a rotatable shaft, a motor geared to said shaft for rotating it, a carrier plate pivoted on a horizontal axis above said rotatable shaft, a pendulum swing pivoted to said carrier plate on a horizontal axis, located at a level below said rotatable shaft, a cam carried by said rotatable shaft, a piston positioned to be operated by said cam and to engage said carrier plate, and a hollow core member in which said rotatable shaft is mounted, said core member being provided with a transverse passage in which said piston reciprocates.

11. A drive for a clock pendulum or the like, comprising a rotatable shaft, a motor geared to said shaft for rotating it, a carrier plate pivoted on a horizontal axis above said rotatable shaft, and positioned at an angle to the vertical, a pendulum swing pivoted to said carrier plate on a horizontal axis, located at a level below said rotatable shaft, a cam carried by said rotatable shaft, a piston positioned to be operated by said cam and to engage said carrier plate.

12. A drive for a clock pendulum or the like, comprising a rotatable shaft, 9, motor geared to said shaft for rotating it, a carrier plate pivoted on a horizontal axis above said rotatable shaft, a pendulum swing pivoted to said carrier plate on a horizontal axis, located at a level below said rotatable shaft, a cam carried by said rotatable shaft, a piston positioned to be operated by said cam and to engage said carrier plate, and a spring for pressing said carrier plate into engagement with said piston.

JOSEPH F. PUNZAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 184,972 Kroeber Dec. 5, 1876 414,336 Smith Nov. 5, 1889 1,033,958 Sieben July 30, 1912 2,054,677 Lux Sept. 15, 1936 2,507,026 Lerman May 9, 1950 

